Yarn-Weaving Printer Creates Custom Clothes

With 3D printing taking much of the DIY spotlight recently, many hackers and enthusiasts have been trying to put their own spin on the additive manufacturing process.

For example, just recently the MX3D Metal robot was unveiled, which can create metal structures on any surface through an additive manufacturing process. Now, Gerard Rubio, a hacker from Barcelona, has unveiled an open-source project known as OpenKnit.

OpenKnit is a digital fabrication tool that will allow a user to create their own clothing through an additive process. Just as a 3D printer prints one layer of filament at a time, the OpenKnit machine will slowly build one layer of fabric at a time. Using a spool of yarn as the raw material, OpenKnit can create items such as scarfs, hats, shirts, and sweaters in about one hour. The machine itself has a large frame made from a type of aluminum extrusion. Then there is an array of needles at the top that work together with a stepper and servomotor to accomplish the knitting technique. Additionally, an Arduino Leonardo is used to control the whole system.

The OpenKnit machine halfway through the process of creating a sweater. (Source: http://openknit.org/)

Since the entire project is open-source, the source code along with the bill of materials and instructions to help users build one is available online at Github. Purchasing all the parts will cost around $750 and assembling the machine should take less than a full day of work.

The machine currently has three thread guides, which allow a maximum of three different colors to be used in one article of clothing. Adding more thread guides for additional colors is an area for future improvement. Additionally, there are some parts of the knitting process that require human intervention, so the machine is not yet fully automatic. Therefore, eliminating the need for any human interaction to complete the final product can potentially be a big next step.

So far, OpenKnit has received a lot of attention from people all over the world. Although the machine does not produce a product with professional quality, many people see the potential for such a project and the enjoyment in creating their own clothes. Furthermore, doknityourself.com allows users to upload and share all of their clothing created through their own OpenKnit machine.

Wow. These devices just keep on coming. As predicted the 3D printer has opened a lot of doors for us. The hackers are doing a marvelous job to mold the 3D technology according to their own specific usage and making something remarkable in the process. From 3D Tattoos and Metal Structures to knitting your own clothes, one can only imagine what the future will bring.

This certainly is an interesting post, since knitting is a lot more complex than just adding a small bit of material. I am aware that computerized embroideryt machines have been around for quite a while, but the knitting machine is something new. It should be very interesting to see how this concept develops.

Thanks cabe for sharing this pice of information It is really exciting and interesting to watch such machines comming into existance . Every one can buy a sweater but every ine cant knit it by her/him self this is the absolute solution for customize swaeters af all sizes and designs .

I have read somewhere that this device requires .STL file it inputs this file and gets the product as the outpit however it is in the initial stage and there is human intervention as well but as we know all technologies become mature with age and time the issues of not being completely automated and using only few colours will be resolved as well .

Wow, what a neat application and machine for a form of "additive" manufacturing. Thanks for reporting this, Cabe. Automated textile-making machines are as old as the industrial revolution, and continue to be used by hobbyists and industrial textile mills. But I don't know if any of them accept digital input or print in layers. Anyone?

What a time to be alive! Imagine going to a clothing store with no inventory other than thread, giving them your program for the perfect jeans, shirt, shoes, under wear(really) and having them made for you on the spot. Or if you could afford it you'd have one at home and pitch the clothes at bed time, make some pjs and start over in the morning. It would still be more efficiant than shipping mega tons of ill fitting clothes from Malaysia, hong Kong, etc. to sit on the shelf in a store until discounted or pitched. While making you're clothes for the day a self driving vehicle comes to your garage with today's food, etc. Just like the Jetsons. It's all coming.

If a major catastrophe strikes your area, will you be prepared? Do you know how to modify the tech you've already got or MacGyver what you need to fit your own situation? A free, five-day Continuing Education Center course starting April 6 will show you how.

Focus on Fundamentals consists of 45-minute on-line classes that cover a host of technologies. You learn without leaving the comfort of your desk. All classes are taught by subject-matter experts and all are archived. So if you can't attend live, attend at your convenience.